Chapter 3: Wesley

Jessica's POV

I woke up the next morning to find Bianca on the phone.

"I was just hoping to see you later today. Maybe around noon? Okay, bye." Bianca hung up the phone.

She sighed and scratched the back of her head. I saw that Casey was still fast asleep.

"Bianca?" I sat up.

Bianca flinched slightly and looked over at me. "Yeah, Jess?"

"Can we talk about something? And I don't want you to get mad at me." I said. "And we don't have to tell Casey."

Bianca looked nervous, but she nodded. I got up and pulled her out of the room. We stood together in the hallway.

"What's this about, Jess?" Bianca asked.

"I know about you and Wesley. I followed you during lunch yesterday." I said.

Bianca looked mortified. "Jess, I-"

"And I heard Wesley call you Duffy, so I asked Harrison what that meant. You're not our designated ugly fat friend, B. You're beautiful." I said. "And don't give me that shit about how society thinks Casey and I are more beautiful. We're no different than you."

Bianca was speechless and she looked on the verge of tears. I hugged her close to me and she immediately reciprocated.

"I just don't want you to lie to me anymore. And you shouldn't lie to Casey either." I sighed. "We love you, Bianca."

There was a sob in Bianca's voice. "It's just... this stuff is really hard to explain to you guys. Do you know how hard it is to admit that you feel like your whole world is falling apart? And how much worse it gets when your two best friends think you're just blowing them off because you don't like them anymore?"

"We just want you to talk to us, B. It feels like you don't trust us when you lie about stuff—and saying you're fine gives the impression that you're lying." I said. "Now, tell me about Wesley."

Bianca launched into the story about her and Wesley—obviously leaving out some inappropriate details. When she was done, I felt bad for not noticing earlier.

"So... you were with Wesley when I called you a couple of days ago for the sleepover? That explains a lot." I said. "But Bianca... I know Jake isn't the only reason you're using Wesley as a distraction. You went to him even before that. So what else are you running away from?"

Bianca sighed. "Isn't one discovery enough for today? You already confronted me about Jake yesterday and squeezed details about Wesley out of me today."

"That just means you'd be putting it off until tomorrow." I pointed out. "Why not just tell me now?"

"Because I already feel vulnerable enough right now. I don't want to open the wound even further." Bianca said.

"You have to tell Casey about Wesley. I'm not good at keeping secrets from you guys. And once you tell her, she'll ask what else you're escaping from too." I said.

"I just don't understand how you ended up knowing before she did." Bianca shook her head.

"Because she's been waiting for you to tell her. I actively investigated. And I have Harrison to ask questions about slang and acronyms to." I said. "Now quit stalling. You're going to tell Casey when she wakes up."

Bianca twitched a smile as we went back into Casey's room. Casey was just getting up.

"Hey guys. What were you up to?" Casey yawned.

"Tell her." I nudged Bianca.

"I... I have something to tell you." Bianca said.

Bianca relaunched into her story about Wesley and how he was her distraction from her problems—and how he nicknamed her Duffy. For once, Casey was quiet and listened intently to the story. When Bianca was done, she looked down guiltily and waited for Casey to chastise her. Instead, Casey put her arms around Bianca the same way I had.

"You dummy. I'm not mad that you have a complex relationship with Wesley. I'm just pissed off that you didn't tell me." Casey said. "And even though I wouldn't normally recommend an enemies with benefits relationship... I think this is the most normal relationship you've ever had."

"Did you just say this was normal?" Bianca asked. "Because I don't think it's normal to torment each other and then end up having hot sex."

"Actually, I think that's the modern definition of marriage." Casey said.

"Please don't imply that I'm married to Wesley. That's just creepy." Bianca winced.

"Look, with the way you described things... I think you love him. You may say that love is something only achieved through years of getting to know each other, but think about it. You and Wesley have known each other for years, you admitted he was attractive for a jackass, and you're getting secrets out of him just as much as he is out of you. You may have started the sex for the wrong reasons, but you're slowly falling in love with him." Casey said.

I'd been thinking the same thing, but I hadn't wanted to piss Bianca off. Casey was perfectly willing to risk that.

"I don't love him! He's just a jackass! A hot jackass... but still a jackass! And just because I got a glimpse into his home life, that doesn't mean anything!" Bianca protested.

"Actually, it does." I said. "You two have started using each other as confidants, which indicates a sense of trust and even love."

They both stared at me, wide eyed.

"The one thing I can be intelligent about, and it's not even what I want to do when I grow up. Thanks a lot, Dad." I sighed.

"See, even Mr. Gaither's psychobabble says that you two love each other. And he's a professional!" Casey said.

"I don't love Wesley... I'm just using him and he's letting me..." Bianca said more to herself than us.

"Denial isn't just a river in Egypt." I said.

Bianca glared at me, but her gaze eventually softened. "I'm going to see him at noon, so I should go now if I want to be ready. I'll see you guys later."

"What, do you doll yourself up before you go see him?" Casey scoffed. "Which would only prove our love theory..."

"No, I just need to explain to my dad why I wasn't at home last night." Bianca said. "I don't love Wesley..."

Bianca quickly turned to leave.

"Fine, go. But you better tell me what else you're using him as a distraction for! And what's up with your dad!" I called after her.

She waved me off and headed down the stairs.

"How did you figure all this shit out before me?" Casey asked.

"You waited for her to tell you. I actively investigated." I shrugged.

"It's weird to have our roles reversed." Casey said.

"Why? Because for once I'm not the wallflower and you are?" I teased.

"Shut up." Casey glared unconvincingly.

"So... since Bianca was my ride home, do you think your mom will let you drive me home?" I asked.

Casey snorted and shook her head. "Yeah Jess, I think she will."

Bianca's POV

Truth be told, I never went home. I went straight to Wesley's. He wasn't bothered by the fact that I was early. That was made evident by the time I was taking to recover from sex. I was lying on his bed with him.

"So, anything new, Duffy?" Wesley asked.

"My friends know about you. And Jake." I said.

"What, did you decide to tell them after all?" Wesley questioned.

"No. They figured it out and confronted me." I admitted.

"Huh, that's funny. You made them sound a little dumb for that." Wesley said.

I hit him playfully. "No, I just figured they'd wait for me to tell them. I mean, Casey waited. Jessica started studying me after her brother admitted what he did to me."

"Maybe she's smarter than you give her credit for." Wesley suggested.

"Maybe..." I admitted. "And maybe I'll think you're smarter than I give you credit for if you have sex with me again. Right now."

Wesley grinned.

Jessica's POV

When I got home, it was almost hard to focus on anything other than the fact that Bianca was probably having hot sex with the hottest guy in school right then. It was an odd thought, considering the way she normally was.

"There you are, Jess! Why didn't you come home last night?" Dad asked.

"Had a sleepover." I walked to the stairs.

"With Bianca and Casey?" Mom asked.

"Who else do you know that let's me sleepover on a whim?" I rolled my eyes.

I ignored any further questions they might have had and walked into my room. Jake was waiting for me.

"If you get the fuck out now, I might not kill you." I glared at him.

Jake frowned. "Look, I just want to explain-"

"I don't want to hear your explanations! You told me what happened, and Bianca confirmed it. I don't need to hear more shit about this—especially since it'll probably make me sick or hate you more than I already do." I said.

"How can I be the one you hate?!" Jake exclaimed. "I'm your brother! And what happened with Bianca happened way before she was your friend!"

"It doesn't matter! My reaction wouldn't be different if she and I weren't friends. You're the bad guy either way. You were an eighteen year old boy who used a fifteen year old girl as a booty call just because you were fighting with your girlfriend! She's so screwed up from that that she views all guys as a potential breakup!" I yelled.

"I'm sorry, okay?! But what am I supposed to do, let an apology fall on deaf ears? She won't listen to me, and I can't take back what I did!" Jake shouted.

"You're supposed to stop rubbing salt in the wound! Every time Bianca remotely hears your name she flinches! She even tried avoiding me until after I told her I knew about you!" I exclaimed.

"Which just proves that I can't apologize. I hope one day she can forget about me and get a nice boyfriend." Jake rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm glad she has Wesley to distract herself from you!" I glared.

"Wesley? Bianca has a boyfriend?" Jake looked confused.

I decided to roll with that. "Yeah, because as much as she distrusts men, she's actually trying to move on from you. Wesley treats her better than you ever did."

The ironic part was that Wesley actually was treating her better, even if he was still a jackass.

"Then she's fine and you need to stop hating me." Jake said.

"She's not fine! She bursted into tears after admitting that what you said was true! And she still talks to Wesley about you, because you're the big barrier in their relationship when it comes to trust!" Once again, I wasn't technically lying.

"What guy is going to work through that many trust issues?" Jake scoffed.

"A guy that has a few trust issues himself. And his name is Wesley Rush, if you remember him." I said.

"Wesley Rush? The manwhore from your grade?" Jake scoffed. "Yeah, she picked a really good boyfriend to work on her trust issues with."

I slapped Jake. "Wesley isn't a manwhore! He just hadn't found the right woman yet. Bianca was the right woman. He's changed, and I have girls tell me whether or not he hits on people. He hasn't, and his little sister says the only girl he ever talks about is Bianca!"

I stretched the truth a little, but I wasn't completely lying.

"Fine! Tell Bianca I hole she has good luck with her new boyfriend!" Jake turned and walked out.

"Maybe I will!" I called after him, slamming my bedroom door.

God, things were just so crazy lately.